Preview: Youngstown State Penguins at Milwaukee Panthers

MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Two Horizon League teams seeking to reverse prolonged early-season slides will meet Saturday when the Youngstown State Penguins visit the Milwaukee Panthers.

The game is scheduled for an afternoon start at Henry Aaron Field.

Both clubs enter with struggles documented in the win column. Youngstown State (3-23) has lost 10 of its last 11 games. Milwaukee (5-21) has dropped 13 of its last 15.

The series opened Friday with Milwaukee shutting out Youngstown State. The Panthers will look to build on that momentum, while the Penguins aim to snap a five-game losing streak.

A key player for Youngstown State is center fielder Brayden Kuriger. He is coming off a two-hit, two-RBI performance in Tuesday’s 11-10 road loss at Akron. Over his last 10 games, Kuriger is batting .300 (12 for 40) with a home run and six RBIs.

Milwaukee will rely on pitcher Tristan Arnold, who provided a bright spot in his last outing. On Tuesday against Illinois-Chicago, Arnold threw three innings of hitless relief, allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts. This followed a difficult appearance against Purdue in March.

According to Interstat analytics, Milwaukee is a clear favorite. The ELO rating system gives the Panthers a 62.40 percent probability to win, and a game simulator projects a 3-1 Milwaukee victory.

Youngstown State’s recent woes include four one-run losses in its last eight games, including three in extra innings. Milwaukee’s offense showed life in a 16-run outburst against Northern Kentucky on March 15 but has been held to five runs or fewer in nine of its last 10 contests.

Following Saturday’s matchup, Youngstown State will host Pittsburgh on Tuesday before a Horizon League series against Wright State next weekend. Milwaukee will host Iowa on Tuesday before heading to Oakland for a league series starting Friday.